I have to agree with all that have complained about Coverstar of Indiana, and the Coverstar system. When it works correctly it is a pretty slick way to protect your family and your pool. However in the 5 years we have had the pool, we have had to replace the cover, the motor, and as of this morning a second set of ropes. I have nearly as much in the replacement parts and service calls as I it was to install the unit.

I clean the cover in the spring and fall, wash out the tracks 3-4 times a year, and shop vac out the dirt and debris at least in the spring and fall. I perform all the maintenance as prescribed in the coverstar manual. The system has a design flaw to it. If my "bumping the end hard is breaking the ropes, then you have a serious design flaw in the system! I never hang on the switch, I never have it on for even more than 1/10th of a second. As soon as it hits the end I release the momentary on switch. The last time the Coverstar of Indiana techs came to repair the cover I had to continually keep them on the project they just wanted to sell me the cleaning service. If your Mechanical safety is the problem, it's because you either designed it wrong, or your techs misadjusted it when I paid them more than $600 to replace a pully and put a open end wrench and socket to the slip clutch!

COVERSTAR, If you want to improve your customer experience, don't tell us about how we must have screwed up and ran the cover into the end, or tried to pull the cover back with 3 inches of water on it, SELL US THE PARTS WE NEED TO REPAIR OUR COVERS FOR A REASONABLE PRICE! It doesn't seem that complex of an issue. There are a lot of business books on how to improve your customer service. Take some of the small fortune you have made off of us, buy any one of the books and try posting another comment.

PS, If anyone has a link to the place to buy the ropes, please post. I am done paying these crooks to work on my pool.

Sorry to hear of your pool cover troubles, many of these comments I've heard before. I've been working with Automatic Pool covers for almost 7 years now, and I've seen quite alot of situations, and repaired different cover systems, and definitely can relate to your situation. I can supply ropes and service for considerably less than coverstar's pricing.

Be careful about too much slack in the rope. The extra loose rope is falling over the mechanism and tangling with the rope on the other side. Basically, it's all tangled together and I can't open or close it. Not sure if I can detangle it. And now I'm fearful of what they will charge for someone to come out.

JoanD wrote:Be careful about too much slack in the rope. The extra loose rope is falling over the mechanism and tangling with the rope on the other side. Basically, it's all tangled together and I can't open or close it. Not sure if I can detangle it. And now I'm fearful of what they will charge for someone to come out.

Rope backlash usually happens because the rope reel brake needed adjustment. Its a normal service item checkpoint.

If you did not repeatedly try to move the cover, chances are, that your rope is fine. Its just a matter of untangling it. Usually takes an hour or more. But, if the rope is wound up so tightly that the ropes are knotted together, or if the rope bound on something sharp and somehow nicked or cut the rope, its time to replace the ropes.

If you happen to live near central Indiana, just us a call or contact us. My company normally charges half what the competition does.

Wow, I just found this forum. I had no idea there was such a problem with the coverstar covers from so many customers. The truth about any cover it that the pool needs to be square and the cover installed right the first time for it to run trouble free. So if you have a sloppy pool builder or a sloppy pool cover installer then good luck. If you've given up on the pool cover service people then you can just replace the parts yourself at more then half the cost. The site I found is brokenpoolcover.com. I've used them and they get the parts out in 3-4 days usually. They also have pictures of most parts sop you don't have to be a parts guru.

I am so glad I found this blog. I googled coverstar and this came up...wish the recent posts showed up first. We were moments away from installing an in ground pool and cover but after reading this blog...we will not be going with a coverstar cover. I am so glad that we have not signed a contract yet. It is ridiculous that the service center requires credit card information before servicing....and to wait several weeks for repairs?? Thank You for all these posts! We will be going with the in ground pool but not a Coverstar!!!

I have a CoverStar pool cover that was installed almost a year ago replacing a competitor's cover which was approximately 5 years old. Well .... I noticed the other day the CoverStar has a small tear of about 6 inches located almost in the center of the cover. I looked at the tear closely and it appears as if the fabric has separated where it is somehow put together. No one has even walked on the cover although it is supposed to support however much weight anyway. There has been rain water on it, but not an excessive amount; plus, the pool was full at maximum to reduce any strain to the top. Anyway, I contacted the person in Lexington, SC who installed it. The person replied that he is no longer with CoverStar & for me to contact the Georgia distributor now supposedly responsible for SC. I will attempt to reach the Georgia person, but I know going in that getting a response after the sale on what should be warranty work will be an ordeal. Not to mention, I noticed on the national CoverStar website, one is supposed to register for warranty protection; I was never made aware of this during the sale. I will probably end up putting vinyl tape on it. Once my child is a little older, I guarantee I will not put another cover on the pool. It is easier to clean the pool versus having the aging and usually dirty looking top over it. Don't buy a top unless your reasoning is only for child or animal protection.

Sorry to hear you are having an issue. But there are a few things to keep in mind as you proceed.

The actual weight of water on a cover can seem very little when in-fact it is a tremendous load for the system to move. For instance, an average 20ft x 40ft pool cover with only one inch of water would weigh over 4100 pounds! Granted not every cover is 20' x 40' and not in every case will there be an inch of water across the entire cover. But even half of that would easily weight a ton (2000 pounds) or more. I am not trying to imply that alone caused the cover to fail, just trying to put it in perspective and to remind you to not totally discount the idea that it may have contributed to the failure. It isn't the downward force from the water. It's the stress from moving the cover with the water on it.

From the sound of it, you may have a valid warranty claim if the cover separated at the seam as you mentioned. Contact Coverstar in Utah (800) 617-7283 and find the distributor in your area. Don't worry about your warranty paperwork. The Utah office will most likely have you on file, if you were the original purchaser. Ask them first. Then contact that distributor and make your inquiry. By all means take digital pictures of the area and send them to your distributor before scheduling a service call. This will help give you a better idea where you stand.